Growing the PreludePieris

Size and Appearance

The Prelude Pieris is a dome-shaped evergreen shrub which grows into a broad bush around 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. It has small oval leaves, 2 to 3 inches long, which are slightly lustrous, and a very dark green. Whorls of new leaves grow out on short stems as the spring flowers are fading, and these are a coppery-pink. The leaves hold these colors for several weeks, slowly changing to their mature dark green. This shrub remains attractively green throughout winter.

If you visit your bush in late fall you will see curious greenish ‘fingers’ clustering at the ends of the stems. These are the flowers for the following year, and they slowly expand through the winter months until they hang in pale-green clusters from all the branch ends. These clusters remain this way into spring, and this variety is later to bloom than many other Pieris, making it a valuable addition to extend the season of these lovely bushes. The flowers open in April and into May, on arching branches that are a little shorter and less pendulous than we see in most other Pieris. An abundance of flowers are produced, virtually hiding the leaves entirely – more than we have seen on other varieties. They are pure snow-white bells, packed tightly along the flower stems, and they do look a lot like the flowers of lily-of-the-valley, although these plants are not related. They have the sweet fragrance of honey, and last well, making a display that you are going to love.

Using the Prelude Pieris in Your Garden

The Prelude Pieris is perfect for foreground planting in your beds, along with your azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons – they all enjoy similar growing conditions like woodland gardens and partially-shade beds. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart for edging or to create single larger groupings. If you don’t have suitable soil for these kinds of plants then the size of this bush is perfect for growing in pots or planters. Containers can be left outdoors all winter in zones 7 and 8, but in zones 5 and 6 it is safer to bury the container for the winter in the garden, lifting it again in spring. Notice that all parts of this plant are poisonous to most animals, although cases of poisoning of pets are very rare.

Hardiness

The Prelude Pieris is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8 – the unopened flower clusters are frost resistant. This plant grows best in areas with damp, cooler summers, and winters that are not too cold. It will be harder to grow in areas that have long, hot, dry summers.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

In cooler zones the Prelude’ Pieris will grow well in full sun – ideally with some early morning shade in spring, which protects against any damage to the flowers from a late frost. In the warmer zones afternoon shade is valuable, or the light dappled shade beneath deciduous trees. Rich, moist, but well-drained soil is needed for good growth, and this bush is not drought resistant. It also needs acidic soil, with a pH value below 6.5 and preferably closer to 5.5. If you don’t have suitable soil, then grow it in a planter with drainage holes, filled with soil blended for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

Once you have the right soil conditions and location, the Prelude Pieris is easy to grow and needs no special care. It generally has no pests or diseases that matter, and deer usually won’t eat it. You might want to trim off the spent flower heads, for neatness and to encourage buds for the next year, but don’t trim away any foliage. If you should one day need to prune it, do this only immediately after flowering and don’t cut the stems in summer. Plants in containers should be fed regularly with liquid fertilizers for acid-loving plants.

History and Origin of the Prelude Pieris

The Japanese Pieris, Pieris japonica, was at one time called Andromeda, and it is till often called Lily-of-the-valley bush. It came to us during the 19th century, when so many plants were introduced from China and Japan. It grows in Japan and eastern China, as well as on the island of Taiwan, beneath trees in mountainous areas. The variety called Prelude was released by the Esveld Nurseries, in Boskoop, the Netherlands, in 1982. It seems likely that it was created in part at least from low-growing wild plants that were found in 1970 by Robert de Belder on Mount Miyanoura, on the Japanese island of Yakushima. Robert and Jelena de Belger were renowned plant collectors and breeders who developed the famous Kalmthout Arboretum in Belgium and founded the International Dendrology Society.

Buying the Prelude Pieris at The Tree Center

The unique Prelude Pieris is perfect for the smaller garden, growing in planters or to add to your woodland garden. Its small size makes it very special among this group of shrubs, and its pure, snowy beauty in bloom brings joy wherever it grows. It was given the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society of England in 1996, and there isn’t a better recommendation of garden worthiness. Order now, because this rare variety is not often available, and always sells out immediately.

Growing the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris

Size and Appearance

The ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris is an upright mounding shrub growing to 6 or 8 feet tall in 10 years or so. At that stage it will only be 4 or 5 feet wide, with a slender form and branches to the ground. Older plants will become a few feet taller and wider, and may begin to expose some of the attractive reddish-brown stems at their base. This narrower form is perfect when you don’t have a lot of space, or for filling a corner, or you can plant a group of three of you want to fill a larger area. The oval leaves are leathery and glossy, with a smooth surface and a rich green color. They are 2 or 3 inches long, and stay attractive all year round. New growth develops as tufts of leaves that sprout from below the fading flowers. The new leaves are extra-glossy, and a beautiful red-bronze, creating a rich and satisfying effect.

The first sign of the flowers is seen in late fall, when tiny green fingers cluster at the ends of the branches. These develop slowly over winter into strands about 6 inches long, studded with buds. Between March and May, depending on your growing zone, the flowers open. They are small hanging upside-down urns, white, sometimes with red speckles, approaching ½ an inch across. They have a soft honey fragrance. The flowers can often develop into clusters of brown seed pods of no particular ornamental value.

Using the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris in Your Garden

As background shrubs in your beds, the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris is unequaled for its beauty and charm. It looks just as good in a woodland setting as in shrub beds, and it even fits well into the more formal planting of evergreens that many people grow around their house. In warmer zones it can also be grown in outdoor planters, and this is a great solution if you don’t have the necessary acidic soil – when planting in pots use a potting soil for acid-loving plants.

Hardiness

The ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris will grow from zone 5 in sheltered spots and through all warmer zones, including zone 9 in the northwest, but not in the southeast, where zone 8 is about the limit.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

In cooler zones your ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris will be happy in full sun, if the soil isn’t dry, but in warmer zones afternoon shade is best. It will also grow well in the dappled shade of woodlands, or against a north-facing wall. The soil should be acidic, with a pH value of no more than 6.5, and preferably lower. The ideal soil is rich and moist, but well-drained – avoid dry areas and wet, soggy places too. This plant is not drought resistant.

Maintenance and Pruning

Very little care is needed to grow the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris to perfection. Water younger plants regularly, especially in summer, and use lime-free organic mulch to help keep the soil moist and cool. Pests or diseases are rare, and usually only a problem when the growing conditions are poor. You might want to remove any small, twiggy branches that are weak or die while this plant is developing, but no regular pruning is needed. If you do need to trim, only do this at the time when the flowers are fading, and never trim the new leaf clusters, or flowers won’t develop. On young plants removing the spent flowers, without cutting any leaves off, will help them grow more vigorously.

History and Origin of the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris

The ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris is a variety of Pieris japonica, a shrub native to the woodlands of Japan. Because of the form of the flowers, it is often called lily-of-the-valley bush, or andromeda (an earlier botanical name for it). Although cases of poisoning are rare, all parts of this plant are toxic to humans and animals, similar to rhododendrons, so don’t grow it where horses or cattle could eat it. It is also poisonous to dogs and cats, although they only very rarely eat it.

We don’t know much about the origin of the variety called ‘Scarlett O’Hara’, but it is reported as being created in New Zealand, sometime before 1980.

Buying the ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris at the Tree Center

Pieris are a lovely group of plants that are always admired when they are seen, but not always planted. Bring another element to your garden of acid-loving plants with the lovely ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ Pieris, and order now, because our supply of these plants is not large, and it is never widely available.

Growing the Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris is a small to medium-sized evergreen shrub, growing steadily into a plant around 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The leathery, dark-green leaves are smooth and glossy, about 2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, with very fine serrations along the edge. The new leaves that come just as flowering peaks are a warm reddish color, and in winter, at least in cooler zones, they turn darkly red again. By late fall the first signs of spring flowering can be seen, as tiny red ‘fingers’ clustering at the top of each stem. These slowly develop over winter, becoming clusters of hanging buds with the stems and buds colored a bold dark red. In spring the bell-shaped flowers open all along the 6-inch hanging stems, pink to begin and white when fully open, contrasting with the red stems and flower supports (the calyx). These long clusters resemble the flowers of lily-of-the-valley, a name sometimes used for this beautiful shrub. A plant in bloom is simply gorgeous, with the red and white display obscuring most of the leaves. Blooming lasts about 3 weeks, and towards the end the new leaves break out in clusters above the blooms, flashing glossy and red. The flowers fade to insignificant seed pods.

Using the Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris in Your Garden

This beautiful evergreen is perfect for all semi-shaded parts of your garden – around your home on the eastern side perhaps, or where a shade tree offers afternoon protection. Plant it out in beds, where it grows well with azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and Kalmia (mountain laurel). It is just as effective in semi-natural areas in open woodland, or in the most formal garden setting.

Hardiness

The Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris grows best in areas with moderate climates, and good rainfall, and it is cold resistant into zone 5. Avoid very hot zones, and areas with frequent drought.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The ideal position for this shrub, especially in warmer zones, is with morning sun and afternoon shade. It should be planted in rich, moist, well-drained soil that is acidic, with a pH below 6.5. It is less particular about pH than many other acid-loving plants, and using chelated iron will often allow it to be grown in more alkaline soils. Use generous amounts of lime-free organic material when preparing the planting spot, and use it annually as mulch over the roots, spreading it in fall. In zone 7 and 8 it can be grown in a planter box or tub, using soil blended for acid-loving plants, if your garden conditions are not suitable.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases are very rare on the Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris, which is also usually left alone by deer. All parts of the plant have some toxicity, but pets rarely bother with it. Once the soil and light levels are right this plant is easy to grow. No pruning is needed, but dead-heading of the spent flowers is valuable to develop the crop for the next year. Remove just the flower heads, without damaging the foliage. Do not trim in summer or it won’t flower. Some shaping of older bushes by removing thin, weak shoots is useful, but otherwise it is best left to grow naturally.

History and Origin of the Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris

Often called Japanese andromeda, Pieris japonica is a plant that is native to the islands of Japan and Taiwan. It also grows in parts of China. Wild plants have green buds and white flowers, but over time plants with red colors have been discovered. The variety called ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ was found or bred in New Jersey in 1953. Two nurseries, one in New Jersey and one in Maryland, first introduced it in their catalogues in 1960. We don’t know who Dorothy Wyckoff was, and the details of the story of this lovely plant have mostly been lost.

Buying the Dorothy Wyckoff Pieris at the Tree Center

The beauty of this lovely shrub in bloom has been recognized twice by the Royal Horticultural Society of the UK, once in 1984 with an Award of Merit and again in 2000 with a First Class Certificate. So you know that discerning gardeners appreciate its special appeal, and we know you will too. Order now, because beauty like this never lasts long.

Growing the Valley Valentine Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Valley Valentine Pieris is a medium-sized evergreen shrub, forming a broad mound of branches, which will grow to 4 feet tall within 10 years. Ultimately it will grow over 6 feet tall and wide, so remember to plan enough room for its final size when planting it. It has many branches rising from the base, keeping foliage close to the ground for many, many years. The leaves are about 2 inches long and almost an inch wide. They are leathery, glossy, smooth and dark green, with fine serrations along the edges. In late spring new leafy shoots sprout out as the flowering is coming to an end. These are orange-bronze, adding a new touch of beauty and extending the spring interest for this plant. The leaves stay green and healthy all through the winter months.

In fall you will see tiny, claw-like shoots forming at the ends of the stems. These are the flowers for the next spring, and they develop slowly through winter, speeding up as spring approaches, and elongating into pink hanging stems at least 6 inches long. These open into hanging bells of a rich deep pink, with just a touch of white at the bottom as they mature. This is perhaps the darkest pink of all Pieris, and it flowers profusely, with many flower clusters topping each stem, making a rich and powerful display. If you have grown Pieris that didn’t flower well, try this one – it’s a winner.

Using the Valley Valentine Pieris in Your Garden

Wherever you have partial shade, such as on the east-facing side of your home, or where you have open, scattered shade beneath deciduous trees, those are ideal places for the Valley Valentine Pieris. Grow it among other evergreens around your home or out in garden beds, perhaps with rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Grow it in open wooded places, along paths or in clearings, where it will be a joy to visit each spring. If you don’t have suitable soil, grow it in a large planter or tub, using potting soil for acid-loving plants.

Hardiness

This plant grows from zone 5 to 8, doing especially well in areas with cooler, moist summers and mild winters. In zone 5 choose a warm, sheltered spot with a good amount of sunlight.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal for the Valley Valentine Pieris, but it will also grow well in open shade. Grow it in moist, well-drained, rich soil, that is acidic, with a pH of less than 6.5. Pieris are able to tolerate neutral soils too (pH up to 7.0), especially if it is enriched with lime-free compost, peat moss or rotted leaves and pine needles. Use chelated iron in spring and fall if the new leaves develop yellow or pale green coloring. If you have alkaline soil, in zones 7 and 8, you can grow this plant successfully in containers, using lime-free potting soil and feeding regularly with azalea food.

Maintenance and Pruning

No pruning is needed for the Valley Valentine Pieris – it is naturally compact and neat. Remove the dead flower heads once blooming is over, to prevent seeding and divert the plant’s energy into flower buds for the next year. Pests and diseases are normally not problems, and deer usually leave this bush alone.

History and Origin of the Valley Valentine Pieris

The Japanese andromeda, Pieris japonica, is native to the islands of Japan and Taiwan. It also grows in parts of China. A range of varieties are available, but almost all of them have white flowers. Dr. Robert Ticknor was a horticulturist and plant breeder at Oregon State University’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center, near Aurora. He creates new varieties of plants to help the large local nursery industry. In the 1960s he worked on Pieris, developing new, improved methods for breeding them and becoming an expert. He created three valuable new varieties – ‘Valley Fire’, with white flowers, and ‘Valley Rose’ and ‘Valley Valentine’, both with pink flowers. ‘Valley Valentine’ was developed from seedlings grown from a cross between ‘Valley Rose’ and an older plant called ‘Flamingo’, an early pink variety named by Dr. Ticknor in 1953 but developed by Lambert Gardens, an Oregon nursery. These plants were all only released after extensive trials to establish their worth and reliability. Dr. Ticknor loved his Pieris so much that he had his ashes scattered under bushes of them growing in his home garden.

Buying the Valley Valentine Pieris at The Tree Center

Dr. Ticknor trialed and tested his plants extensively before releasing them, so you can be sure this plant is reliable and top quality. It was given the Award of Garden Merit in 1993 by Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society, another badge of quality. We know you will love this bush in your garden, but order right away, because our stock is very limited, and we know that the last plant will be leaving our farm very soon.

Growing the Katsura Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Katsura Pieris is an evergreen shrub with a rounded form. It grows steadily, reaching 3 feet wide and tall within 10 years, and eventually it will be double that size. Don’t be misled by its small size when young and allow enough room for the final size of this magnificent plant. The leaves are small, about 2 inches long and ½ inch wide, but closely placed on the stems. With the many branches rising from the base the result is a dense, bushy plant. The leaves are leathery, smooth, and glossy, with minute serrations along the edges. In spring new leafy shoots come in clusters from the ends of the branches, and for several weeks these new leaves are a rich wine-red color, making a striking and dramatic display. They gradually fade to pink and then light green, before darkening to their full, mature, dark-green color. That rich tone is kept throughout summer, fall and winter.

In late September or October you will be able to make out the first signs of blooming. Tiny flower clusters, like minute fingers, form at the ends of the stems. These slowly expand over the winter and by early spring they are several inches long, hanging in dense clusters from the branch ends. The buds open to a beautiful rosy-pink color – something very different from other Pieris, which are normally white. The new leaf shoots often begin to grow before flowering is completely over, and the combination of colors is very beautiful. The hanging bell-shaped flowers look a lot like the blossoms of lily-of-the-valley, and they are fragrant.

Using the Katsura Pieris in Your Garden

With its love of partial shade, the Katsura Pieris is perfect for all those places in your garden that have some shade. These could be on the east side of your home, in the shadow or dappled shade of deciduous trees, or in open wooded areas. Grow it in beds with other acid-loving plants like camellia, rhododendron and azalea. In warmer zones it also makes a beautiful plant for containers and planters.

Hardiness

The Katsura Pieris is completely hardy in zone 6, 7 and 8. It will grow well in a sheltered spot in zone 5 as well, and in above-ground planters in zones 7 and 8. It grows best in climates that have cooler, damp summers and mild winters.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The perfect location for the Katsura Pieris would be where it had morning sun and shade from noon and through the afternoon. It will also enjoy light broken shade, such as we often see beneath well-spaced large deciduous trees. The ideal soil is moist, rich, well-drained and acidic, with a pH of less than 6.5, and preferably lower. Pieris is easier to grow in neutral or very slightly acidic soils than rhododendrons. Add plenty of acidic organic materials to the soil, and as mulch, and, if necessary, use of chelated iron. If you don’t have suitable soil, grow in a planter or pot, using potting soil blended for acid-loving plants, and azalea fertilizer.

Maintenance and Pruning

No pruning is needed – the Katsura Pieris naturally forms a neat, rounded bush. Remove the flower clusters when they finish blooming, without removing any foliage. Use lime-free mulch, like rotted leaves or pine needles, or peat moss, in spring to keep the soil cool and reduce water loss. Water during dry periods, as this plant is not drought resistant. Insects and pests are normally not a problem, and with the right light, soil, and moisture, this plant is relatively easy to grow well.

History and Origin of the Katsura Pieris

The Japanese andromeda, or lily-of-the-valley bush, Pieris japonica, grows wild in forests in Japan, Taiwan and some parts of China. Since it was first grown in gardens improved versions have been selected by nurseries and plant enthusiasts. Dr. Yoshimichi Hirose is a plant collector and writer who lives in Yamate-Chou, outside Yokohama. In 1986 he found a unique branch on a plant of Japanese Pieris. It was unique because of its pink flowers and the very dark red of its young shoots. He grew this piece into a plant and named it ‘Katsura’. There is a Shinto shrine called that in Japan, but it seems more likely that it was named after Yoshimichi’s wife. It was first introduced in Europe by PlantenTuin Esveld, a nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, and protected by European Plant Breeder’s Rights. Later, in 2004, it was granted a US Plant Patent and became available in the USA.

Buying the Katsura Pieris at The Tree Center

The unique rich coloring of the spring growth makes the Katsura Pieris a very showy plant. Combine that with the unusual pink flowers and you have something truly special. These rare Pieris varieties are always in short supply, so our very limited stock will soon be gone. Order yours right away.

Growing the Forest Flame Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Forest Flame Pieris is a rounded evergreen bush, with several major stems rising from the base. It grows steadily into a plant that will be 6 feet tall and almost as wide, with the potential for reaching 10 feet in time. The sturdy limbs are mostly hidden by the large leaves, but when we can see them, at the base of older plants, they are rugged and covered in attractive red-brown, flaking bark. The leathery leaves are smooth and glossy, 5 inches long and 1 inch wide, and a rich, dark green. They keep their rich color throughout the year, except for several weeks in spring when the new growth appears. Leafy shoots grow from the tip of every branch, and the young leaves are an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors. At first they are bright, flaming red. Then they become pinker, turning lighter and lighter until they are a creamy white. Then green creeps in, turning them pale chartreuse, which gradually darkens until they reach their final mature dark-green. These transitions last over several weeks, creating an extremely colorful and unique show.

In September the first hint of blooming will be seen. Tiny, claw-like clusters of flower buds form at the tips of the stems, and these develop slowly over the winter until by spring they are large and decorative. Then they open into cascading clusters of blooms, 6 inches long, full of fragrant, pure-white, flowers like small hanging bells. The resemblance to lily-of-the-valley is striking, and this plant is sometimes called lily-of-the-valley shrub. The blooms are often still open when the first red stems begin to emerge, so that spring is a long, continuous display of beauty from this iconic plant.

Hardiness

The Forest Flame Pieris is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8. It grows best in areas with relatively mild winters and cooler, rainy summers, and should be grown in a sheltered spot in zone 5.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for the Forest Flame Pieris, and it will also grow in light dappled shade beneath deciduous trees. The soil should be rich, moist, well-drained and acidic. Pieris are not as sensitive to pH as rhododendrons and azaleas, and they will usually grow in soil that is neutral.

Maintenance and Pruning

Enrich the soil before planting with lime-free compost, rotted, leaves, peat moss or rotted pine needles. If the pH is between 6.5 and 7.0 it is helpful to apply chelated iron in spring and fall. Mulch in spring to conserve moisture and keep the roots cool. If you have soil with a pH above 7.0, then grow this plant in a pot, using potting soil for acid-loving plants. Water when the top ½ inch of the soil in your pot becomes dry, and feed regularly with azalea food. Pots can be left outside all winter in zones 7 and 8. In cooler zones either bury the pot temporarily for the winter or keep in a cold, well-lit place. Pests or diseases are rare, and trimming is not needed beyond removing flower stems that have finished blooming.

History and Origin of the Forest Flame Pieris

Pieris is a small group of plants, and the Japanese andromeda, or lily-of-the-valley bush, Pieris japonica, which is native to the mountains of Japan, Taiwan and parts of China is one of the most cold-resistant species. In contrast, the Chinese andromeda, Pieris formosa var. forrestii, is only hardy in zones 7 and 8. That plant has brilliant red spring growth, which makes it very desirable. Around 1946, at the Sunningdale Nurseries in Berkshire, England, both species were being grown in the same area. One day a grower noticed a seedling that had grown up naturally at the foot of a Japanese Andromeda. It looked different, so it was preserved and studied. It was found by experts to be a hybrid between the two species, which had happened quite naturally. This remarkable plant combined the cold-hardiness of the Japanese species with the red shoots of the Chinese one – a wonderful thing and a great benefit to gardeners. It was named ‘Forest Flame’, and it became famous and coveted almost as soon as it was released.

Buying the Forest Flame Pieris at The Tree Center

The Forest Flame Pieris was recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society of England as special, when it was given their Award of Garden Merit in 1973. It has the vigor of hybrids, and is a tougher plant, and easier to grow, than either parent. No wonder everyone wants one. You should order now, because these plants sell out very, very quickly.

Growing the Flaming Silver Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Flaming Silver Pieris is an evergreen shrub that grows steadily into a rounded, multi-stem bush 2 feet tall and wide, and ultimately could reach 3 to 5 feet tall, and at least that wide. It has several stems from the base, and it stays leafy to the ground for many years. Older plants may reveal their attractive, rugged basal branches, which are covered in a peeling reddish-brown bark. The oval leaves are smooth, glossy and leathery, about 2 inches long and ½ inch wide. They are mid-green, and around the edge is a broad, slightly irregular, band of pure white. This creates a very attractive and bright look. New growth in spring comes from the ends of the branches, as several tufts of leaves. When newly sprouted the stems and leaves are bright rosy-red, and they hold this color for several weeks, before gradually fading through pink into light green and maturing to their variegated form.

In late fall you will be able to see minute clusters of flowers at the tips of the branches, and these slowly mature, so that by late winter or early spring, depending on your growing zone and local weather, the blooms begin to open. These are a cluster of slender threads, 4 inches of more long, with white hanging bell-shaped flowers all along them. These charming flowers are sweetly fragrant, and they look a lot like lily-of-the-valley. This variety is not a profuse bloomer, so grow it beside one of our other varieties of Pieris, to make sure you get plenty of the beautiful blooms to admire. Its bold variegation and red shoots certainly earns it a prominent place in any shade garden.

Using the Flaming Silver Pieris in Your Garden

This shrub is ideal to brighten partially-shaded beds in your garden, and its variegated leaves bring valuable lightness among dark-leaved shrubs and evergreens. Grow it among your foundation planting, in your shady beds, and in woodland garden settings with rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. It also makes a beautiful container plant in warmer zones, especially if you don’t have acidic soil.

Hardiness

The Flaming Silver Pieris is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8. It grows best in zones that are not too bleak and cold in winter, and not too hot and dry in summer, with regular summer rainfall. Grow in a sheltered spot in zone 5.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Partial shade, especially in the afternoon, but with morning sun, is the ideal location for your Flaming Silver Pieris. It also grows well in light dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, but not so well in the deep shade under evergreens. It grows in acidic, well-drained soils, ideally with a pH value below 6.5. If you can grow rhododendrons and azaleas, you can grow Pieris. In fact, even if you can’t, if your soil is neutral you can grow it, with the help of good soil preparation and mulch, because it is less demanding for acid conditions than most other acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

Prepare your planting area by digging in plenty of rich, lime-free compost, or rotted leaves, peat-moss or rotted pine needles. Use more for mulch, but don’t mound up around the stem or bury the leaves. Feed in spring with fertilizer for acid-loving evergreens, and if your pH is more than 6.5, use chelated iron in spring and fall. No pruning is needed, and if you have good soil and light conditions this plant is not hard to grow at all. Water twice a week for the first growing season, and after that keep the ground moist, but don’t over-water. It normally has no pests or diseases, and it needs no pruning or special care. Remove the flower stems once blooming is over.

In zones 7 and 8 you can grow the Flaming Silver Pieris in a planter or pot. Use compost for acid-loving plants, and feed regularly with liquid fertilizer for azaleas. Water whenever the top ½ inch is dry, make sure you have drainage holes and don’t leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.

History and Origin of the Flaming Silver Pieris

The Japanese andromeda, or lily-of-the-valley bush, Pieris japonica, is native to the mountains of Japan, Taiwan and parts of China. It was probably introduced in the middle of the 19th century, but there is more interest in it today than ever before. The variegated variety called ‘Flaming Silver’ was developed at Oregon Garden, a private botanical garden in Silverton, Oregon in the 1980s. It was introduced commercially by Gossler Farms Nursery, of Springfield, Oregon, and is certainly the very best of the variegated forms of Pieris, with a compact form and excellent white variegation on the leaves.

Buying the Flaming Silver Pieris at The Tree Center

Elite shrubs like the Flaming Silver Pieris are always in high demand, but the technical skills needed to propagate them are rare, so the supply is always limited. We were fortunate to find these plants, so take advantage of our good luck and order now – opportunities to buy plants of this quality don’t come along very often.

Growing the Fire n Ice Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Fire n Ice Pieris is a rounded evergreen shrub that grows at a moderate pace to be 5 feet tall and wide, maturing in time to be as much as 8 feet tall. The leaves are smooth, lustrous, slender ovals tapering to a point, with very finely serrated edges, and up to 2½ inches long. The foliage is dense, crowding the stems, and creates a full, bushy shrub with the lower branches only becoming visible when the plant matures. New shoots in spring emerge a striking and vibrant bright red, giving this plant a very attractive and colorful look at that time. As the red fades the leaves turn bright lime green, and a white edge begins to develop. The leaves mature to a rich mid-green, with an icy-white irregular margin around them. This variegation is held all through summer, fall and winter, so this plant is significantly brighter in the garden than other Pieris bushes, which are a uniform dark green.

In late winter and early spring the beautiful flowers appear. These are carried in hanging bunches at the ends of the previous year’s stems, and they are produced profusely even on very young plants. There are many flower clusters on each stem, and each one is up to 7 inches long, carrying about 25 pure-white hanging flowers, shaped like tiny bells. They look like hanging lily-of-the-valley, although these plants are not at all related to each other. This very showy bloom season lasts 2 weeks or more, and just as the blooms are finishing those bright red shoots emerge.

Using the Fire n Ice Pieris in Your Garden

This beautiful shrub is perfect in beds or borders, and its neat look means it fits perfectly into more formal gardens, as well as looking wonderful in more natural woodland areas, where it will be very much at home. Plant it in sheltered areas around your house, or further away, but make sure it is in a prominent position where you can enjoy its beauty. If you don’t have suitable soil (or even if you do), this is an excellent plant for large tubs and planters, because the fine, fibrous root system means it will thrive and grow in containers for many years. In a pot you can move it around to enjoy it, and also to adjust the light available for optimal growth.

Hardiness

The Fire n Ice Pieris is completely hardy from zone 5 to 7, and in zone 8 in the northwest. In zone 5 choose a more sheltered, bright place, and give it a little more shade in warmer zones.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

This plant will grow in full sun or partial shade. In sunny locations, especially in warmer areas, the soil should be moist, and afternoon shade is often beneficial. It also grows perfectly in the open, dappled shade of deciduous woodlands, and on the north side of buildings and walls. It grows best in moist but well-drained acidic soils containing plenty of organic material. A steady supply of moisture is needed for optimal growth. If you have a new garden, test the pH of your soil with a simple kit, or see if your neighbors are growing azaleas or rhododendrons. If they are, and if your pH is 6.5 or less, you can grow the Fire n Ice Pieris. If not, then plant it in a container with a drainage hole, using potting soil blended for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

Mulch each spring with rich, lime-free organic material, and maintain a steady supply of moisture for the best growth. This plant will not grow in wet soil, however, so good drainage is needed. Feed plants in planters and tubs regularly with liquid fertilizers for acid-loving plants. Pests and diseases are not normally a problem, and deer usually ignore this plant. Pruning is not usually needed, but removing the dead flowers is beneficial. If you do need to trim an older plant, do this only immediately after flowering. If the soil is suitable, and with appropriate light and moisture, this is not really a difficult plant to grow at all.

History and Origin of the Fire n Ice Pieris

There are two species of Pieris that are important for gardens. One, the Japanese Lily-of-the-valley, Pieris japonica, is a medium-size shrub with glossy foliage and copper-colored young shoots. The other, Pieris formosa, has a variety called forrestii, from south-western China. That plant has bright red new shoots and long flower panicles, but it is unfortunately not very hardy. A form with exceptional red shoots, called ‘Wakehurst’, was found in the UK in the 1920s. Around 1946, at the Sunningdale Nurseries, also in the UK, a chance hybrid seedling was found between Pieris japonica and Pieris formosa var. forrestii ‘Wakehurst’. It combined the hardiness of the Japanese pieris with the beautiful red growths and large flower clusters of ‘Wakehurst’. That plant is called ‘Forest Flame’. Then, in 1992, Jim Ellefson at Kramer’s Nursery in Mt. Angel, Oregon, spotted a unique branch on a plant of ‘Forest Flame’, that had leaves with beautiful white margins. He propagated it, and that piece became the plant known as ‘FIRE N ICE’. He patented his discovery in 2007, after growing it for a decade to test its worthiness and appreciate its potential.

Buying the Fire n Ice Pieris at The Tree Center

This plant is one of the very best Pieris available, because it is interesting and attractive all year round, not just in spring. Always in short supply, our stock will soon be gone. Order now, and enjoy the beauty of this shrub in your own garden.

Growing the Interstella® Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Interstella Pieris is a mounding evergreen shrub that grows to be between 3 and 5 feet tall, and just as much across. The young bark is greenish and scaly, and older bark is attractive and rugged, peeling in strips to reveal different shades of grays and browns. Because of its dense, multi-branch form, the bark is only seen on older plants, at the base, when it gives a look of mature beauty. It has very attractive evergreen leaves with a slightly leathery texture, which are glossy when young and satiny when mature. They are slender ellipses about 1½ inches long. The new stems sprout in late spring from around the fading flower clusters, and the new leaves are a bright orange-red that is as colorful as a second flowering. Mature leaves are a rich, dark green, and they are durable, staying green and fresh all through fall and winter.

The flower buds can first be seen in fall, where they show as tiny red finger-like clusters at the ends of the stems. These expand slowly over the winter, and by early spring they are large, with the first blooms opening in March or April. Because they bloom so early, among the first flowers in your garden, the cool weather means they last a very long time – up to an incredible 2 months of blooms.

In the Interstella Pieris there are numerous clusters of blooms at the end of each stem, typically about 10 stems 2½ inches long, each carrying about 25 blossoms – that’s 250 blooms at the end of every branch. The buds and newly-opened flowers are deep purple-red, among the darkest and richest of any Pieris. As the flowers open and mature they turn first a brighter red, and then develop a unique two-tone effect, with the base of each flower turning white, while the upper part remains red. The flowers are shaped like small upside-down urns, with a narrow flaring mouth.

Using the Interstella® Pieris in Your Garden

Grow this gorgeous shrub around your home, among your evergreens. Plant it in the middle area of beds, and use it in lightly shaded woodland areas, where it looks superb. Plant it behind azaleas to bring early color, and if you use Encore or Rebloom azaleas, you will have flowers in those beds from March to November. Grow it in tubs on a terrace or patio, where it is easy to see the beauty of its blooms up close. With its fibrous root system, it lives happily for many years in a planter.

Hardiness

The Interstella Pieris is Hardy from zone 5 to zone 8, staying fresh and green. It grows best in areas with mild winters and cooler, damp summers, and it needs extra care to do well in places with very hot, dry summers.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the Interstella Pieris in full sun or partial shade. In warmer zones the best location will have morning sun and afternoon shade in spring. It will also grow well in the light dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, where it will bloom before they leaf-out. Keep the leaf canopy open and not too shady. The ideal soil is moist, well-drained and rich with organic material. The pH value should be below 6.5 – the same conditions needed for azaleas and camellias. If your soil is too alkaline, grow it in a planter box or tub, using potting soil blended for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

Mulch in spring with lime-free organic materials, such as shredded leaves, to conserve moisture and keep the roots cool. Water regularly during dry weather. After flowering it is best to snip off the finished flower clusters just above the new stems – trimming any more will reduce or eliminate flowering. That’s it – in fact an easy plant to care for, if you have suitable growing conditions.

History and Origin of the Interstella® Pieris

Pieris japonica grows naturally in mountainous woods in Japan, Taiwan and eastern China. For many years after its introduction to Europe and America it remained a little-known plant for specialists. During the last century breeders became interested, and new forms, with more showy foliage and brighter blooms were created. In the 1960s, in America, a variety called ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ was developed, with pink buds opening to white flowers. In 2004 Michael Farrow, a grower at Holly Hill Farms wholesale nursery in Earleville, Maryland, collected some seed from plants of ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ and grew the seedlings. In 2008 he spotted a remarkable seedling, with wonderful purple-red flowers and bright red new growth. He took cuttings and passed them on to Spring Meadow Nursery Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan, for further study. After years of careful testing, in 2020 Michael and Spring Meadow were granted a patent on his new plant, with the name ‘FARROWPJRF’. It has been released as one of Spring Meadow’s Proven Winners® series of great new plants, with the trademarked name of Interstella®.

Buying the Interstella® Pieris at The Tree Center

We love being able to offer our clients the latest and best of the new plants created by skilled breeders. The Interstella Pieris is an amazing shrub that you will love, so be the first to grow it, but order now, because everyone else likes ‘new and great’ as well, and we only have a limited supply of this new release.

Growing the Mountain Fire Pieris

Size and Appearance

The Mountain Fire Pieris is a rounded evergreen shrub, growing in time to be between 6 and 8 feet tall, and between 4 and 6 feet wide. It is well-furnished with dense foliage, becoming more open at the base with age, and revealing attractive dark reddish-brown to gray roughly-textured bark. The leaves are long ovals, between 2 and 4 inches long. They are glossy and dark green, with a very finely serrated margin. The leaves cluster at the ends of the stems, and new leaves, which appear as the flowers are fading, are brilliant red, creating a wonderful effect that is like a spectacular red-flowering shrub from a distance. It takes several weeks for the new growth to turn slowly green, passing through many shades of pink and coppery tones to get there. The rich green leaves remain attractive all winter.

In fall you will see the beginning of the following year’s blossoms, as small greenish finger-like clusters at the ends of every branch. These slowly expand during the winter, and in early spring, generally in March or April, the flowers will begin to open. They are abundant, and they are carried on 6-inch flower spikes that hang in clusters all over the bush They look a lot like the flowers of lily-of-the-valley, with a faint fragrance. A plant in bloom, at first in graceful white, and then as the new shoots emerge, glowing pink and red, is a gorgeous sight in any garden.

Using the Mountain Fire Pieris in Your Garden

With its dense and substantial form, this plant is the perfect shrub for background planting, in beds, woodland areas or around your home. Mix it with other evergreens, including rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias for a charming and colorful garden for months and months. Use it as a foundation plant, behind smaller shrubs, or beneath trees. If you don’t have suitable soil for this beautiful plant, then grow it in a large planter or tub. Its fibrous root system means it will grow in planters for years, and you can control its needs easily.

Hardiness

This shrub is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8, and thrives in areas with cool winters and mild, damp summers. It is not so successful in places with hot, dry summers.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

In cooler zones plant in a sunny location, shaded in spring from the morning sun. This will protect the blooms from potential damage by any late frosts during the flowering season. In warmer zones plant with some afternoon shade, or in light partial shade, such as the dappled light beneath deciduous trees. The soil should be rich and moist, but well-drained, and this plant is not drought-resistant. The soil should also be acidic, with a pH no higher than 6.5. It is easy to test your soil for this. If your neighbors are growing rhododendrons or azaleas, you will be able to grow the Mountain Fire Pieris easily. If you don’t have suitable soil, grow the Mountain Fire Pieris in a large planter or tub, using potting soil blended for acid-loving plants. Make sure the planter has a drainage hole, and water when the surface of the soil becomes dry.

Maintenance and Pruning

No specific care is needed for the Mountain Fire Pieris, and it is easy to grow in the right soil and conditions. It normally has no pests or diseases of importance, unless the soil is wet and poorly drained. Deer usually leave it alone. It is helpful to remove the spend flowers, but otherwise no pruning is needed or desirable. If you do want to prune, do this immediately after flowering, so that there is time for new stems to develop fully, and bloom the following year. Removing a few of the longest stems each year on an older bush, to keep it compact, is better than waiting a long time and then pruning it hard.

History and Origin of the Mountain Fire Pieris

The Japanese Pieris, Pieris japonica, was once called Andromeda, and it is sometimes also called the lily-of-the-valley bush. It was introduced into Europe and America in the second-half of the 19th century, along with many other well-known garden shrubs that came to us from Asia. The variety ‘Mountain Fire’ is renowned for its brilliant new spring growth, and it is a reliable, classic form dating from the 1960s. It was discovered in British Columbia, Canada and released to the nursery trade in 1976.

Buying the Mountain Fire Pieris at The Tree Center

The Mountain Fire Pieris is a well-established favorite with gardeners who know their stuff. It received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society of the UK in 1993, which is a solid recommendation. We know you will love its months of color, but our stock is limited, so order now, because we won’t be able to keep such a popular and highly-regarded plant in stock for very long at all.